News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-10-20
THE BEST PHYSICAL EXERCISE.
A Physician-S->Netion of What is
Good and What is Bad for a
Man to Do.
[Dr. S. Fleet Spier in the Epoch. I

/ Pedestrianism is wholesome when in
obliged in for pleasure, but is bad il
contests The professional pedestrian
finally becomes thoroughly broken up
the stomach and general system are ex
hausted by too much exertion.
Rowing is one of the best exercises il
INDUCED in moderately, but an oarsmar
can row in a contest until entirely ex
hausted and not know it until he is taken
from his boat paralyzed, so to speak.
Base ball is full of danger, especially
to the pitcher. So true is this that the
base balls pitchers arm as we'll as the
tennis arm are recognized in the medi
cal profession as special diseases. The
exercise in base ball is very violent, and
sooner or later causes overstrain.
Tennis is a violent exercise, and is
liable to be carried too far.
Running is too much of an outburst
to be of service in a general way, and is
only good on account of the previous
training necessary to follow it up. II
carries its own remedy with it in the
natural giving out of the legs before the
rest of the body is exhausted.
Training should bring up the general
physical status to point that will enable
it to endure its utmost and with just a
little to spare for the push of the urgent
moment. There should be just enough
strength left to make the finish better
than the start-to break the record of
the individual, so to speak, and leave
him in better physical condition than
before. The sensible and physiological
way for man to take outdoor sport is
acting on medical authority, to develop
by special exercises the parts of his
body that are weak. If q man takes
any pride in a Systematically rounded
physique he should give his whole at
tentiOn to the organs that are weak. 1t
is surprising to me that horseback exer-
else is not INDUCED in more than it is.
Many young men spend enough money
on their vices OF follies to enable them
to buy and keep a horse. Would suggest
therefore those who cannot own horse,
riding clubs might be formed. Let the
horses be used by members of the clubs
just as boats are used by boating clubs.
The expense a keeping the horses,
under such conditions, when divided up
the hofsebacfr-exefcise could be varied
most young men now indulge. In that
way the strength of the body would be
more equalized. The outskirts of New
York and Brooklyn furnish many lanes
and roads that lead through beautiful
country, and the riders could not fail to
enjoy themselves.
| do not know Of any outdoor exer-
else SO suitable for men rs the sports of
the field. Hunting is healthful and n
beneficial sport. There is just enough
excitement about it to make the exercise
You take beneficial. While you are
walking you are thinking about some
thing of interest; while your body is
being exercised your brain gets slim
illus. Hunting is good for the well and
good for many who are sick. | have
known invalids, sent to the South with
the advice that they should go shooting,
to come back restored in health The
man who combines hunting in the field
with horseback riding, as is done in the
South, has the best kind of outdoor re-
creation. Field sports are for young
men; the older ones must be content
with fishing or following the rabbit I
recall the case of the veteran writer for
the sporting papers, Horace Smith.
While yet young man he was given
up by his physician to die of cOnsump-
ton He was in business, and his doc
tor told him that he had better stop
work and devote the remainder of his
life to his dog and gun. Mr.. Smith
acted on the suggestion, and I am will
ing to admit that possibly the doctor
advised better thanhe knew, for this same
young man died only recently at the age
of 80. In the sporting papers, to which
he was a constant and valuable CON
tributor, he constantly made public the
fact that he attributed his restored
health to exercises taken in the field.